, there was no humor in his face. On the contrary, he actually looked far angrier than he would have with a calm expression, his red eyes the only thing betraying his fury. Alan seemed confused as he looked up, blinking as he tried to pull himself up. He immediately failed, too dizzy to put any strength in it as he sloped back down against the wall.

As Alan tried to blink the stars in front of his vision away, Azriel turned towards Jasmina, gaze flickering a soft pink.

"Are you alright?" he asked, a hand on her cheek as he inspected her.

"I'm fine," she drawled.

He shook his head, his irritation visible in the way his jaw tensed. "I should have come sooner. Normally I wouldn't have missed you being in danger like this, I feel stupid."

She knew he normally wouldn't have, but she also knew his workload had tripled without the sins. When she had asked for the favor he hadn't mentioned it, but it was easy to notice by the dark shadows under his eyes and the stacks of papers that had been on his desk. While sorting them she hadn't missed the ones meant for the sins but sent to him instead, but seeing as he hadn't mentioned it to her she supposed he didn't want her to know. In the brief time she had known him it had been easy to spot that he didn't want to be seen as a good person, so she wouldn't pull off his horns anytime soon.

"You think I can't handle myself, Az?" she said.

"I know you can, my queen," he said, slowly rubbing his thumb across her bottom lip, as if to remove any sign of Alan's kiss. "That doesn't mean I don't want to be there for you when needed though." His gaze darkened as it wandered towards Alan, her ex-boyfriend finally seeming to come back to his senses. "Especially considering our promise. I remember promising to end anyone who kissed you myself."

"Queen?" Alan frowned, able to pull himself up succesfully this time," what's going on, Jasmina?"

"What do you think?" Jasmina said, more because she was too lazy to think of an excuse than anything else.

Alan's eyes flicked from her to Azriel, even the shadows not able to conceal how ethereal her husband-to-be looked. It wasn't surprising, considering he wasn't of this world anyway, but it caused Alan to stare confusedly at him just a moment too long. After snapping out of it he finally spoke, a slightly horrified tone tinging his voice.

"Is this some sort of BDSM relationship?" he said slowly," I always knew you were a bit of a sadist, but I never had expected this - I mean, hell, where did you even find this guy?"

Azriel blinked in surprise, a loud laugh tumbling down his lips after, but Jasmina just rolled her eyes.

"You kind of answered your own question," she replied.

"I never expected to be classified as the masochist," Azriel remarked amusedly.

"I guess that's a sign that you have to step up your torture game, Satan," she said.

"Don't call me Satan," Azriel frowned," different guy."

"You're actually all the same guys but in different fonts," she shrugged.

Azriel's lips parted, an offended look flashing across his face. "I will have you know that all the other gods of hell wish they were me. I'm the prototype."

"You know that I don't settle for anything but the best," she drawled.

The chuckle that left his lips died out as soon as he looked back at Alan, anger flaming up again in his eyes. On cue the crackling of fire started around them and she stepped on a paper catching fire underneath her, letting it die out immediately. With a hand on his cheek she calmed him down, the tenseness flowing a bit out of him. Alan just seemed taken aback by it all, as if he wasn't sure what he was seeing.

"Don't tell me you're dating this lunatic, Jas?" he said, disbelief coloring his voice. "Where do you find all these crazy men? All those new transfers as well are absolutely insane."

"I want to say I have a type," Jasmina answered sweetly," but I don't think any of the others would cheat on me."

Alan immediately flinched, but he wisely chose not to speak. His explanation to clear up his perspective hadn't done anything for her to be honest. He hadn't even needed to do it; she had been able to guess it herself easily. The intentions being understandable didn't mean they would instantly be forgivable though. The little trust she had she had put in him and he had done whatever he wanted. Did that mean she would hate him forever? Of course not. Hell, she had left it behind her as soon as she had gotten her revenge. It did mean she would never be in a relationship with him again, even if she hadn't already been semi-married to a devil.

"Why'd you kiss me, Alan?" she said.

"Why do you think?" he answered quietly, eyes on her as if she was the only person in the room.

Azriel waved a hand in front of Alan's vision, not amused by his fixation on her. "She asked you a question, human."

Alan frowned, but before he could say anything else Azriel already looked back at Jasmina, eyes flickering red.

"My patience is running out," he said," can I go ahead and end him now?"

Jasmina chuckled, tucking a dark lock behind his ear.

"You have no patience, Az," she smiled," and no, you can't. I'm pretty sure he's going to hell right along with me when he dies, so take satisfaction in that eternity. I still have something to do with him here."

"And that is?" Azriel asked.

"Taking care of an abusive father," she said, amusement immediately disappearing from her eyes.

She didn't have to say more for him to understand and she hadn't expected to - if anyone knew what it was like to have a horrible father, it was Azriel after all. It was only then he noticed the bruises on Alan's body, the temperature in the room dropping immediately once the realization settled in. With a slow nod he looked from her back to Alan, walking towards her ex-boyfriend.

Alan immediately froze as Azriel came closer, not saying anything until they were shoulder to shoulder. The devil's icy eyes focused on his, a cool smile making it's way on his lips. Azriel tilted his head to the right as he placed a hand on Alan's shoulder, breaking the silence a moment after.

"Alright then," he said," I suppose I'll let you go for now. I'm with Jasmina now though and to disrespect her is to disrespect me." He casually slammed Alan against the wall, leaning forward as he continued. "I don't have many virtues, Alan Lewis, and mercy is not one of them. Remember that."

"How do you know my name?" Alan managed to say.

The smirk that flashed across Azriel's face could only be described as devilish, eyes pitch black.

"I know more than just your name," he drawled," but I don't think you'll like my answer."

"Anyway," Jasmina said, interrupting them with a snap of her fingers," I have a lesson to attend. Alan, you can go to my house, I'll notify the staff to let you in. Tonight we'll talk more."

"No need to notify anyone, my queen," Azriel said as he turned towards her, eyes suspiciously sweet," I'll go along with Alan to your house."

Jasmina raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have work to do, Az?"

"Work can wait," he shrugged," thinking up a revenge plan with my wife and being together with you again can't."

"Didn't know you were so jealous," she teased as she opened the door.

"You did," Azriel replied amusedly," it's one of my only characteristics besides being the epitome of all evil."

"I suppose it's why we fit well together," she chuckled, before waving at them," I would warn you not to hurt him, but you know better than that, so I'll just see you at home."

Azriel placed an arm across Alan's shoulder, his wide grin a sharp contrast against Alan's absolutely terrified expression. Still, she knew he wouldn't do anything else to Alan. She couldn't explain the trust she had in him, but it was there, built on their contract and yet more solid now than she ever had had with anyone else. He knew that, she could see it in his eyes, the way it put him at ease. The smile he offered her then was way more genuine, gone as soon as she blinked.

"I'll see you soon, my queen," he said.

"I'll see you soon," she replied, blowing a kiss at him.

"Don't leave me alone with him, Jasmina!" Alan called out after her, voice panicked.

"You'll be fine!" she shouted back.

At least for now.